Chatting, ranting and some stepping! Come in and have a brew with us.

[carrotsandcelery]

A place to have a blether, and a . All chatters are welcome, stepping or otherwise.

Come inside and settle down on the sofa.

at least you are bringing money in!

ugh. all done now & watching HIGNFY. I have run out of wine though

I quite like going round the supermarket. Especially just now. It is lovely and cool.

I obviously don't have to take any children with me. That makes a big difference.

I have just had a chamomile tea and am off to bed. I keep putting it off as I don't like my book group book and I have exhausted my magazine.

I prefered it when DH went to the supermarket. But he now (as it's summer) plays golf on a tuesday & if he goes another night, it's yet another evening we don't spend with each other. And I'm spending about £30 less each week than him.
But, I am sick of doing the meal plan, the list & the shop. (I make sure I schedule the delivery for when he is here!)

off to bed too. Prob won't get much chance to check in again for a few days - hope you all have a good week.

Morning ladies!
Busy few days here, work on Friday, Sat we had GP visit in the morning, then a b'day party, then a thing at Church. Yesterday we did the full circuit; McDs for breakfast, car boot, Ikea, girls sleep in camper while DH does shopping, then Crich Tramway Museum. It's a great place, there's olde fashioned shops, trams running on a 20 min track, woodland walk, playground and picnic area. Plus it's like £12 to get in but that gets you a free pass for the year! Except for some of the special events like Halloween, but it means we can pop in for a couple of hours and not feel like we have to do everything. :o

What's everyones plans for the weekend?

Morning all!

The sun is still shining here.

I am hoping to take the dogs to the river. I have to wait a while and see if a friend phones for a lift somewhere first.

This weekend I am going on a photography course and then to a party in our park, for the whole village, to celebrate the Jubilee. I don't know what we will do for the other 3 days. I imagine a lot will depend upon the weather but I also suspect it will involve lots of children being around.

Dd might have started her pony loan by then too so it might involve a bit of ferrying and supervision up there while she learns the ropes.

Are you going away in your Camper Camper?

I also need to get the dcs new sandals and dd some trainers somewhere along the way. We are not blessed with an abundance of shoe shops so it can be a 3 hours experience if we can't get locally.

Morning all

Thank you Adora and Carrots for your support. I am feeling a bit better today! Very hot though!!

I hada really nice day yesterday

Singing at church in the morning. Then a friend and I took a picnic to a local country park.It was lovely. We walked round the lake, watched sailing races, incuding someone capsizing, and enjoyed the shade in the woods.

Then we came back to mine and I cooked your lentil casserole recipe Carrots - plus some pieces of pork in it. It was really yummy ( ans I still have enough for about another 4 meals!!)

We have had that lentil hotpot for Christmas dinner before Arti. It is so tasty and so healthy and reasonably cheap too for the amount it makes. I am glad you enjoyed it.

Today is the first day I haven't had to put on every fan in the house. I have all the windows and doors I can open and there is a touch of a breeze which is making it pleasant, not boiling. I think it is about 20C at the moment which is as much as I need really

I have booked Twilight a vet's appt. Hopefully she is just struggling with the heat but she is a bit unsteady on her feet and a bit twitchy and it is making me anxious. I have to admit I was relieved she was still snoring when I woke up this morning. She does seem a bit livlier now it is cooler though so hopefully I am being a fuss pot.

Hey Carrots we are going anywhere, we have a busy-ish long weekend here. There's loads of lovely things happening in our village and local town and I'm a strong believer in supporting local stuff. The Village is having a Village Show complete with craft, veg and childrens classes on the Sat, there's something in town on the Sunday, Monday is free I think....., and then the Village School is having a Jubilee Picnic on the Tuesday!
How long is the pony loan for? Is she excited?
Arti glad you had a good day. Sometimes its nice to just get out and do slow-paced things with no agenda. :)

Sounds fab Camper.

We haven't decided the length of the loan yet. I want to take bessie's suggestion and go for a 3 month trial and then to maybe Jan or Feb but I will see what the owner feels.

Dd is very excited but, quite rightly, a little daunted. I have been quite impressed by her actually, weighing up the pros and cons of it. It is a huge committment for her.

Just back from the vets. Twilight may have had a mild stroke or could just be suffering from nerve degeneration. She has some tablets to perk her up a bit. I am a bit I knew that taking on such an old dog would be painful, inevitably, but...

about Twilight.

To be fair, she seems happy enough, just wobbly and doddery.

:( Carrots that sucks. Glad DD is being serious about the loan though, shows she's being mature about it.

Can anyone explain why my argumentative, messy, challenging dd is transformed into a helpful, hardworking, cooperative, reasonable child as soon as she enters the school gates?

(We have just had parents' evening)

I am livid. Absolutely fuming. So angry in fact I swore on the phone to my mom (and I'm not a swearer by nature).

When we went to the in-laws last weekend SiL and her kids were around. The eldest had been sent home from boarding school with German Measles though "supposedly" (according to her father who is NOT a doctor) not contagious any more. MiL had an email this morning, just before we went to lunch (and then drive home to East Anglia), saying that Niece3 now has the German Measles, too. Which means Toddler and I have been exposed while both nieces were contagious (because you're contagious for a week after the spots DISAPPEAR and Niece1 still had spots when I saw her; you're also contagious for a week before spots appear and it has an incubation period of two weeks). Niece3 (who is 8) in particular was all over Toddler (she loves him to bits) -- was cuddling him, touching him, in his face playing, etc.

This past week I have been to numerous toddler groups/activities, on play dates to the parks and playgrounds, around pregnant friends (one of whom is only about 7 weeks pregnant after years of trying) and babies too young to be immunized. This does not include the hundreds of people we have been in contact with in town, in the shops and cafes, at the wedding on Saturday, etc.

They have brought brand new baby Niece4 (born Friday) home to their house of ill and have invited everyone to her baptism this coming Sunday (bank holiday weekend Sunday). Niece3 broke out in her spots on Friday so will still be contagious. BiL is telling MiL that Niece3 is only contagious 5-7 days so can still go round to hers for Latin lessons on Friday.

I am so (excuse me) fucking pissed off I can't even explain. I now also feel I need to tell my friends who are pregnant and those with babies too young to be immunized that I may have carried this disease to them.

Scout I am raging for you. I completely get why you are so furious. This is not just a bit annoying, it is downright antisocial, selfish and extremely dangerous.

Is there anything to be gained by telling your pregnant friends etc? It could just cause extreme worry for your friend in early pregnancy. She will probably have been immunised with Ruebella as a teenager (if she is British) for this very situation. If not, worrying will only make matters worse for her.

It is probably worth mentioning to those with little babies, so that they know it is a possibility if their child proves to be unwell.

It is really hard to know what to do. There is no need for anyone to be going through any of this. That is why we have an immunisation programme.

Pregnant friend probably did but I make no assumptions as there seems to be more and more people NOT getting their various jabs for whatever reason. And G.M. in early pregnancy (up to 16 weeks) that will cause serious damage (including miscarriage) to the fetus. While I don't want to cause stress I do want to find out if she's had her jabs (though she can't have them now that she's pregnant). I just want her to be safe.

As for babies, there are loads at groups, many of whom I don't know the mothers except as faces at groups. Will tell my friend who's baby Toddler loves (his BBF's little brother who just turned 1 this weekend). I know he hasn't had his jabs yet as we often compare appointment slots with each other (same ante-natal class with the toddlers so on relatively the same checks & jabs schedule).

Well, it's been two weeks since I've seen newly pregnant friend so no risk of making her ill. WHEW!

Did tell the mother of Toddler's BFF she took it really well. She knows what nuts my in-laws are and I've been ranting-- keeping her up some of the happenings (such as over Easter). She said that I wasn't to know and not to blame but she's grateful I've let her know.

I'm going to call the duty doctor tomorrow as I have loads of questions.

I am still quite .

Oh dear Scout! I hope you are all going to be alright.

I didn't get enough sleep last night so am a bit tired.

The weather looks and feels a bit cooler here today so it will be nice to just not feel "too hot".

DD is making it difficult for me to get anytime on MNet lately cause she --gets in the way-- sits on my lap every time I try to go on the computer. (She is in bed now after waking me at 5.00am and various times during the night.)

Potty training - The health visitor almost told us to give up "trying" and just encourage DD to sit on the toilet or potty with clothes on. --not sure what happens though if DD still refuses--
I can understand what the health visitor is saying, she wants us to start from scratch almost (dd can wear pants if she wants too). She wants DD to "lead" the whole thing. If DD wants a nappy on we have to let her. I think it's about letting her feel as if she has control of the whole thing and not feel pressured.
Just hoping her plan will work. I feel a bit

I'm off to get some breakfast. Might return later --if I get chance--

Hope everyone is o.k.

Scout that is outrageous! I am also on your behalf. You now have to apologise for something that isn't your fault, but I'm also guessing you will stay clear of anyone just in case. That just sucks!

It is appaulling Scout. I am really still.

Cats I can understand the idea of putting your dd in control. Ds did it this way. We did nothing until he decided he wanted to do it and it was really easy. He was just over 3 when he did it and it was no issue whatsoever.

I have had very little sleep and feel like I am in slow motion today. I may need to sleep booted today to keep me awake.

I'm a lot calmer this morning though no less at it all. If I had been accidentally exposed by a random stranger who didn't know that would be one thing. But given the circumstances (and the fact they had been sending Niece3 to various Measles and German Measles "parties") I'm livid. Also fearful. I come into contact with so many vulnerable people (the old dears in town who get close to/touch Toddler, pregnant women at groups, babies too young for their jabs) it makes me sick with fear and guilt.

Anyone around?

I have sneaked on here while DD is watching telly. I must get some lunch.